Celebrating the Life
of
Daniel (Dan) Henry Bailey
Sunrise: 08 Feb 1898 - Sunset: 26 Dec 1963
God, in His infinite wisdom, removed from earthly labors to eternal rest, the soul of our beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend, Daniel Henry (aka Dan) Bailey, on Wednesday, December 26, 1973, at the Veterans Hospital in Long Beach, CA.
Dan was born in Janis Indian Territory, OK, the eldest of four children on February 8, 1898, to Gabriel (aka Gab) & Ida French-Bailey. He and his siblings were the first generation to be born in freedom. On April 22, 1899, Dan and his mother (Ida) were enrolled as Choctaw Freedmen under the treaty of 1866 by the Dawes Commission in Janis Indian Territory, OK, later known as Tom, OK. He was educated in the Choctaw Freedmen Schools system in Indian Territory, OK.
At the age of 20 he met the former Laura E. Galbreth (Age 18) the daughter of Samuel M. and Laura Williams-Galbreth of Dekalb, TX. Dan and Laura were united in marriage on December 23, 1918, in Foreman, Ark. To this union three daughters were born: Ida Mae, Lonnie Bea & Vera (aka Little Dan) Bailey. Laura past away in 1924 and was buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Tom, OK. Dan had one other child Odell (Bailey) Hunter who was raised by his stepfather & mother Mr. and Mrs. Bob & Lizetta Liggins-Hunter.
Papa, as he was affectionately called, was a man of many talents and wore many hats. He was a father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend to many. As a young man, he was ambitious and sought a better life for his family and extended family. He farmed 40 acres of land he received under the Allotment System of the Dawes Commission as a Choctaw Freedmen. In addition, he also farmed 80 acres belonging to his mother (Ida French-Bailey) and grandmother Susan (aka Ma Suky) Fowler-French in Tom, OK. He worked in Dequeen, ARK at the Chicken Factory, and was later employed by the Rail Road Company in Foreman, ARK. In 1942 he was drafted into the U. S. Army and Honorably Discharged in 1944. After being release from the military service he briefly stayed with his daughter and son-in-law (Lonnie Bea & Gaston Green) in Pasadena, CA. In 1944 while visiting family and friends in Bowie County, TX he met Queen Esther-Sampson and in 1945 they were united in marriage. To this union, Dan gained three (3) stepchildren: John Sampson, Jr., Johnnie Mae Sampson & Elizabeth Sampson-Bennett. He was gainfully employed at the Naval Base, San Pedro, CA and later at Long Beach Naval Shipyard in Long Beach, CA. He retired after 30 years of government service from the Naval Shipyard in Long Beach, CA.
Dan enjoyed visiting with his family, hunting with his friends, and caring for his hunting dogs. He was well respected within his community and happily assisted those who were less fortunate. He was laid to eternal rest on Thursday, January 3, 1974, at the Peniel Church of God In Christ in Los Angeles, CA and interred at Veterans Cemetery (Sawtelle) in West Los Angeles, CA.
Dan was predeceased by his parents; Gabriel & Ida French-Bailey, his first wife Laura E. Galberth-Bailey, one (1) daughter Vera (aka Little Dan) Bailey, Two (2) great grandchildren Lora Etta Evans and Gaston A. Greene; One (1) son-in-law Gaston Green, Sr., One (1) brother in-Law Lee Bryant, One (1) stepson John Sampson, Jr., One (1) stepson-in-law Robert E. Bennett, Sr. and One (1) stepdaughter Johnnie Mae Sampson.
His absence leaves a tremendous void in our lives and he will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Cherishing the pervasive presence of a life well lived his 3rd wife Queen Esther-Sampson-Bailey of the home; One (1) son Odell, (Bailey) Hunter, Oakland, CA, Two (2) daughters; Ida Mae Bailey-Jones, Wichita Falls, TX, Lonnie B. Bailey-Green-Brown and One (1) stepdaughter Elizabeth Sampson-Bennett, Los Angeles, CA; Two (2) son-in-laws; Leonard Jones, Wichita Falls, TX and Rufus Brown, Los Angeles, CA; One (1) daughter-in-law Betty Owens-Hunter, Oakland, CA, One (1) Sister Mary Maggie Lime Bailey-Bryant, Los Angeles, CA, Twenty (20) Grandchildren; Forty-eight (48) Great Grandchildren, Two (2) nieces Maggie McKneely-Roberts, Foreman, Ark. and Janice Dorsey-Renwick, Los Angeles, CA and a host of other relatives and friends.
We love you Poppa you may be gone but you will never be forgotten!
